Top 5 Tips to Avoid Getting Sick

Have you ever wondered why Winter is a sickness free-for-all? Contrary to popular belief we don’t get sick from cold weather itself, but we do get sick from the viruses in the air. When it’s cold outside, some viruses tend to survive better which makes us more susceptible to catching a cold or the flu. Couple that up with people staying inside more when it’s chilly and we have the perfect formula for the virus to spread. Thankfully there are precautions we can take to help keep these viruses at bay. Below are my top five tips to help prevent getting sick while giving your immune system a nice boost!

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1. Take Probiotics 

Most of our immune health stems from our gut. Taking care of your gut flora can help prevent you from getting sick and shorten the amount of time your sickness lasts. Apart from probiotics being one of the most important aspects to your health, it can also help to reduce bloating among many other benefits. You can get probiotics through food but keep an eye out for “live cultures” written on the label to make sure the healthy bacteria are still alive. Another way to get your probiotic intake is to take a supplement. I recommend doing your research before and maybe consult your doctor to avoid complications.

2. Take Vitamin C

Daily vitamin supplements provide a great solution to the vitamins we might not get through our diet, especially vitamin C. Taking vitamin C when you start to feel run down or know you’re about to get sick can reduce your sick time altogether or even prevent it from happening in the first place. There are a lot of mixed reviews on this but from my personal experiences with being sick and knowledge of nutrition, I’ve found this to be the most important ingredient to prevent a recipe for disaster. If you do come down with a cold or the flu, my go-to is Theraflu and continued use of Emergen-C or another vitamin C supplement of your choice.

3. Drink Water

Hydration is everything. As we all know, our bodies are made up of a significant amount of water. When we don’t drink enough water, our bodies aren’t able to pass harmful toxins and aid in the absorption of vitamins. Drinking enough water helps your body naturally flush the bad while replenishing with the good. So, go ahead and get to gulping!

4. Wash Your Hands

I once did an experiment in Biology class that consisted of swabbing items in the building that we believed to have the most germs. Elevator buttons beat toilet seats by a landslide. Make sure you’re washing your hands when touching things in public places you know probably don’t get cleaned often. Be conscious and avoid the urge to touch your face as well. That’s just making it easier for bacteria to get into your system. I’d also consider buying a travel-sized hand sanitizer just in case!

5. Get Enough Sleep

I know that getting seven to eight hours of sleep might be unheard of if you’re a college student or the average human being, but it’s so important for your health. Sleep provides the opportunity for our bodies to repair themselves. So, when we don’t sleep enough or at all, we haven’t allowed the body to repair and prevent complications from happening. Lack of sleep affects your immune system tremendously as well as your mood. Do your body some good and get enough rest!